If you give someone or something the once-over or a once-over, you look at them or examine them quickly. Penny gives me the once-over. I'm wearing a bright jacket that'll go down well with European viewers, she says. Could you give this email a once-over before I send it, please? Note: You can also just talk about a once-over. You could bring the car to a mechanic for a once-over.

If you give something a once-over, you clean it quickly. I found a vacuum cleaner in a small cupboard and gave the carpet a once-over. When you're in the bath, give your feet a once-over with a pumice stone to remove rough skin.